best way to secure the battery in an e30?

leegf · Post by **leegf** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 11:32 am

the battery in my trunk clunks around, and i suspect that zip ties/straps/bungee cords won't pass tech at a driver school. how do you all secure your e30 batteries so that they don't move?

TIA.

jnscaldwell · Post by **jnscaldwell** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 11:43 am

#10 on the schematic. It's the battery hold down.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do ... g=61&fg=30

leegf · Post by **leegf** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 12:13 pm

oh, thanks. and this will be enough to pass tech?

does the oem hold down completely eliminate any play, or will there still be some movement?

jnscaldwell · Post by **jnscaldwell** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 12:19 pm

It holds my battery down and there is virtually no play at all. As a member of the tech team I can tell you if you show up with bungee cords we'll send you away...you already know that it sounds like. Show up with the factory mount and you'll pass as long as the battery is secure.

victory1auto · Post by **victory1auto** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 5:05 pm

As Jeff says, the factory mounting bracket is the way to go. Note that sometimes the loose-battery problem is due to the wrong battery being fitted. There are a number of battery suppliers [eg: Interstate] that offer batteries that actually properly fit in BMWs, but not all aftermarket batteries have the proper "foot" on the battery case to engage the mounting bracket.

With the correct battery and factory hold-downs, there should be no play between the battery and the plastic tray it sits in.

Vic

Jacksone30 · Post by **Jacksone30** » Sat Jun 25, 2011 6:07 am

Just curious - what year did they move the battery to the front of the car?
My 89 vert has it under the hood.

Tim

mderienzo · Post by **mderienzo** » Sat Jun 25, 2011 9:21 am

All E30s had the battery in the trunk except the convertible models and maybe the early 318.

Mark D